LETTER-WRITING is an important channel of communication between people who are geographically distant from one another. In earlier times when the telephone and e-mail were not available, the only means of communication between people was through letters.

Letter-writing is a skill that has to be developed. In general there are two types of letters: formal, that are written to convey official business and information and informal, which are personal letters to communicate with friends and family. Formal letters are sent out when we need to write to various public bodies or agencies for our requirements in civic life. For example, we might have to ask for a certificate or to inform a change in our address. A letter is usually one in a series of exchanges between two people or parties.

Formal Letters

Let us now examine some of the steps in writing formal letters.

1. (i) Introducing oneself if it is the first time you are writing
(ii) Referring to an earlier letter if you are responding to it.

2. Stating the purpose of the letter

3. (i) Stating action/information required from the addressee
(ii) Explaining action taken/supplying information

4. (i) Urging action to be taken
(ii) Offering assistance in future

This is the basic structure of a letter. It will have to be modified according to the purpose for which it is written and the person to whom it is addressed.

When you write a letter you should keep in mind the following points.

1. Purpose
2. Person to whom it is addressed
3. Tone you should adopt
4. Completeness of the message
5. Action required
6. Conciseness of expression

We have so far considered the content of letters. A letter also has a typical format.

1. Name and address of sender

Companies have printed letterheads with the name of the company printed on them. A letterhead may also carry the name and designation of persons in responsible positions.

2. Name and address of addressee

3. Date

4. Mode of address or salutation

Salutation is the mode of addressing a person. We may have the following forms.

(i) Dear Sir/Madam (when we are writing to a total stranger whom we do not know at all).
(ii) Dear Mr/Ms/Dr/Professor + Surname as in: Dear Dr Sinha, (when it is a formal relationship with the addressee and the writer does not know him or her personally).
(iii) Dear Sujata (when the writer knows the addressee personally and the two share a semi-formal relationship).

5. Reference to previous correspondence, if any.

Most official letters carry a subject line just above the salutation. This is for quick reference to the subject.

6. Content of letter

The content of the letter begins on the next line and is arranged in two or three paragraphs.

7. Complimentary close and signature

Letters usually end politely with the following phrases:

Ritu Patel
Manager, Customer Services
Vijayanagar Gas Company
121, Ameerpet
Hyderabad 500 016

12 November 2005

Mr Shagun Thomas
801, Vijay Apartments
Begumpet
Hyderabad 500 016

Sub: Your application No. F323 for a new gas connection

Dear Mr Thomas,

—————————————————————————————— —————————————————————————————— —————————————————————————————— —————————————————————————————— ——————————————————————————————

With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Ritu Patel

Nowadays all the parts of a letter are aligned on the left. This style is called the Full-Block style.

• The date and signature are very important in letters.
• We do not use commas after every line in the address.
• Do not begin your letters with hackneyed expressions like, ‘With reference to your letter dated 10 January’. Instead, use personalised variations like, ‘I was glad to receive your letter of 10 January…’ or ‘We were happy to note from your letter that the goods have reached you safely…’
• Never end your letters with hanging participles like ‘Thanking you’ or ‘Awaiting your reply’. Instead write, ‘Thank you’ or ‘We/I await/look forward to your reply’.

Informal Letters

Informal letters include personal letters. If it is a personal letter the format is flexible. We might just write the name of our city on top, followed by the date.

Hyderabad
12 November 2005

Dear Sujata,

—————————————————————————————— —————————————————————————————— —————————————————————————————— —————————————————————————————— —————————————————————————————— ——————————————————————————————

Bye,

Yours affectionately/With love/
All the best/Take care etc.

(Signature)

The flexible format of the informal letter may also be used to seek information from concerned authorities. Given below is an example.

$\hspace{13cm}$ 179 NCERT Campus
$\hspace{13cm}$ Sri Aurobindo Marg
$\hspace{13cm}$ New Delhi 110 016

$\hspace{13cm}$ 9 September 2005

The Manager
Himachal Tourism
Mall Road
Shimla

Dear Sir,

We are planning to spend our vacation in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh during Dussehra and would like some information regarding availability of lodging in the area.
$\quad$ We would like to have information about inexpensive hotels in and around Dharamsala. Could you please send me a city map and brochures about the activities and sights in the city?
$\qquad$ Thank you.

$\hspace{13cm}$ Yours faithfully,

$\hspace{13cm}$ (Suryadhan Kumar)

Given below is the format of the informal letter.

• Your address (but not your name) usually goes in the top righthand corner, but may go on the left too.
• The name and/or job title (if you know them) and the address of the person you are writing to goes on the left.
• To address someone whose name you do not know you can write: Dear Sir, Dear Madam, Dear Sirs, Dear Sir/Madam.
• To address someone by name, use their title and surname e.g. Dear Dr Balakrishnan.
• To end a letter, use ‘Yours sincerely’, if you have addressed the person by name; ‘Yours faithfully’, if you have begun the letter with ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Madam’, etc.

Job Application

At some point of time each one of us will have to apply for a job. Job applications are usually written in response to advertisements.

Let us take this sample advertisement from a daily newspaper, The Hindu dated 15 November 2005.

Come…join the ADVENTURE
Customer Support Executives
Graduate/Diploma holders
with/without experience
possessing good Customer
Service skills. Excellent spoken
and written communication
skills in English is a must.
Send in your applications with
your resume and passport
size photograph to:
WONDERLAND
COMMUNICATIONS,
SOUTH STREET, SALEM,
TAMIL NADU

Let us assume that you have a degree or a diploma and are applying for the job. We need to prepare a resume, which actually means a summary of particulars relating to your background, academic qualifications and experience, if any. Other terms used for ‘resume’ are ‘curriculum vitae’ and ‘biodata’.

The general format of a resume or curriculum vitae is shown below.

$$\text{CURRICULUM VITAE}$$

Name $\hspace{2.7cm}$ :

Address $\hspace{2.4cm}$ :

Telephone Number $\hspace{1cm}$ :

E-mail ID $\hspace{2.3cm}$ :

Date of birth $\hspace{1.9cm}$ :

Academic Qualifications $\hspace{0.33cm}$ :

${}$ $\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|} \hline \text{Examination} & \text{rationalism} & \text{hypocricy} & \text{Year} & \text{Division} \\ \hline \text{S.S.C} \\ \hline \text{Diploma in…} \\ \hline \text{Degree in…} \\ \hline \end{array}$

Experience $\hspace{1.5cm}$ : (Begin from present employment)

Skills $\hspace{2.4cm}$:

Languages known $\hspace{0.55cm}$ :

Hobbies and Interests $\hspace{0.1cm}$ :

Achievements $\hspace{1.11cm}$ :

References $\hspace{1.5cm}$ : (names of people in positions like your school Prinicipal who can certify your character and conduct)

Now we need to send a covering letter along with the curriculum vitae. The following letter is an example.

Your name and address
Date

The Manager
Human Resource Division
Wonderland Communications
South Street, Salem
Tamil Nadu

Dear Sir,

I would like to apply for the post of Customer Support Executive that you have advertised in The Hindu of 15 November 2005.
$\qquad$ I have just completed my Diploma in Communication from the State Polytechnic. I was happy to note that you do not insist on experience.
$\qquad$ If selected, this would be my first job. I am a sincere, honest and hardworking person. I am friendly and outgoing and have good communication skills.
$\qquad$ I am enclosing my resume and look forward to meeting you in person.

Regards,
Yours truly,

(Signature)

Activity

1. You have not received your Roll Number card for the Class XII examination. Write a letter to the Registrar, Examination Branch, CBSE asking for it.

2. Write a letter to the President, Residents’ Welfare Association of your locality suggesting some measures that could be taken for solving the problem of water scarcity and conserving water.

3. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing your views on the deteriorating law and order situation in your city.

4. Write a letter to your friend narrating your experiences in a rescue operation.

5. Write a letter to the Editor of a magazine describing a dance performance you have seen or an art gallery you have visited.